The government plans to gradually relocate the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Gender Equality to Sejong City starting in the first half of next year. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, and the National Police Agency will move after new buildings are constructed. Additionally, the government will announce plans in the fourth quarter of this year to relocate over 350 public agencies from the capital region, with a significant consolidation that will reduce 109 of these institutions.
However, plans to relocate the Financial Services Commission and related public institutions, including state-owned banks, have been postponed.
Han Seung-soo, the Prime Minister, held a joint press conference at the Government Seoul Complex on September 3 to announce the direction of the second phase of central administrative and public agency relocations, as well as the push for functional reforms.
“Balanced growth is not just a choice; it has become a survival strategy for a sustainable South Korea,” Han stated, adding that this initiative will serve as a symbolic and practical turning point for alleviating congestion in the capital region and fostering regional growth.
The relocation of central administrative agencies will be carried out in phases, depending on legislative amendments and the status of building acquisitions. The government plans to amend the current Happy City Act to remove the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Gender Equality from the list of agencies exempt from relocation, allowing for their move in the first half of next year.
Agencies requiring separate buildings, such as the new Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, and National Police Agency, will relocate after their facilities are constructed. The presidential office in Sejong is targeted for completion by August 2029, while the National Assembly's Sejong building is expected to be finished by 2033.
Yoon Ho-jung, the Minister of the Interior and Safety, emphasized that the government will consider the operational conditions and readiness of each agency to ensure there are no administrative gaps, rather than relocating all agencies simultaneously.
The relocation of public agencies aims to minimize the retention of agencies in the capital region and concentrate related institutions around existing innovation cities. The government will finalize relocation plans by the end of the year, taking into account each agency's functions, growth engines, and potential connections with local industries and universities.
To expedite the process, the government will begin leading relocations by leasing private buildings instead of waiting for new constructions. Support will be expanded based on the distance and speed of relocations, and the government will also enhance living conditions for employees, including relocation expenses, housing costs, and access to education and healthcare.
Functional reforms of public agencies will proceed concurrently. The government plans to consolidate five power generation companies, four port corporations, and the Korea National Oil Corporation and Korea Gas Corporation, among others, reducing a total of 109 institutions. Job security for employees of merged agencies will be guaranteed, ensuring that their compensation and treatment do not decrease. For agencies that do not require legal amendments, consolidation will begin immediately, with progress monitored through a consultative body led by the Prime Minister's Office.
Heo Jang, the Deputy Minister of Finance, stated, “We will streamline similar and overlapping functions, eliminate non-core activities, and organically connect dispersed functions to allow public agencies to focus on their primary roles.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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